Drought in Cowlitz County, WA: 2.3 years in 10 since 2000

2.3 years in 10

Cowlitz County, WA: 6 of 26 full years had 13+ weeks in drought. About as drought-prone as a typical US county.

20002025

Drought years: 2001 (42 wk), 2015 (21 wk), 2018 (27 wk), 2019 (19 wk), 2021 (26 wk) and 2025 (29 wk). Not a single drought week in 2000, 2002, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016 and 2024.

Keep a lawn, but switch to drought-tolerant grass

Dry years come often enough to kill a thirsty lawn every few summers. Keep the lawn, reseed with a drought-tolerant mix, and put the beds on drip.

If you reseed, use a drought-tolerant mix and do it well clear of Sep, the month drought is most common here. Put beds on drip before the next dry year.

Drought has been more common in 2016-2025 (4 years in 10) than in 2000-2015 (1.3 in 10).

Against the rest of WA

30th most drought-prone of 39 WA counties; the WA middle is 3.5 in 10. Closest on the list: Snohomish County (2.3 in 10) and San Juan County (2.3 in 10). Driest in WA: Grant County (5 in 10). Least drought: Jefferson County (1.5 in 10).

When in the year it hits

Most often in Sep (27% of weeks), then Oct (26%) and Aug (25%). Least in Jan (4%). May to September averages 21%.

4 Jan
6 Feb
8 Mar
5 Apr
11 May
17 Jun
24 Jul
25 Aug
27 Sep
26 Oct
13 Nov
8 Dec

The worst year: 2001

2001: 42 weeks in drought, peaking at D1 moderate. Across 1,401 weekly maps: 14.6% of all weeks at D1 or worse, 3.3% at D2, never any D4. Longest unbroken spell: 42 weeks, Feb 13, 2001 to Nov 27, 2001.

Lately

Last drought year: 2025, 29 weeks. 2016-2025: 4 in 10, against 1.3 in 10 for 2000-2015, drier lately. So far in 2026: 0 of 44 weeks in drought, through Nov 3, 2026.